Initial list of nominees for The 2014 ESPYS presented by Capital One, hosted by Drake, are revealed and voting has begun.

Pardon the Interruption’s Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon will host TheESPY Nomination Special on Thursday, July 3, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

WHEN:

Voting is underway and all categories will close when the live show starts Wednesday, July 16, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.

HOW:

Fans will determine the winners in most ESPYS categories by voting online at ESPN.com/ESPYS up to the start of The 2014 ESPYS.

2014 ESPYS FACTS & FIGURES:

“Best Male Athlete” has stiff competition this year, with NBA MVP Kevin Durant, MLB AL MVP Miguel Cabrera, NFL MVP Peyton Manning, and undefeated boxing champ, Floyd Mayweather, all vying to take home the honor for the first time.

LeBron James is after his third-straight and fifth-total win in “Best NBA Player.” Five-time nominee Kevin Durant is angling to take his first.

The “Best Female Athlete” category showcases a collection of fresh faces this year. WNBA star Maya Moore is the only returning nominee. She is joined by the first female UFC champion, Ronda Rousey, the youngest Olympic slalom gold medalist, Mikaela Shiffrin, and the college basketball Player of the Year, Breanna Stewart.

The Connecticut women’s basketball team is in the hunt for their second “Best Team” award on the heels of a record ninth NCAA title. The Huskies have been nominated seven times, but have not taken home the honor since 1996.

Novak Djokovic is chasing his third-straight “Best Male Tennis Player” award. He is up against two fellow 2013 nominees, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal.

Floyd Mayweather is going for his fifth “Best Fighter” ESPY in seven years, and his third straight.

Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera is nominated for the second-straight year in both the “Best Male Athlete” and “Best MLB Player” categories. He won the “Best MLB Player” award in 2013.

Ronda Rousey is the first UFC athlete, male or female, to be nominated for a “Best Athlete” award. She is the first and current UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion.

Serena Williams is after her 7th “Best Female Tennis Player” award, and her second straight.

The ESPYS gather top celebrities from sports and entertainment to commemorate the past year in sports by recognizing major sports achievements, reliving unforgettable moments and saluting the leading performers and performances. The 2014 ESPYS marks the show’s 22nd telecast and will recognize both sport-specific achievements, such as “Best MLB Player” and “Best WNBA Player,” and best-in-sport winners, such as “Best Team” or “Best Female Athlete” that pit nominees from different sports against each other. The ESPYS honor ESPN’s commitment to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, a partnership launched with the late Jim Valvano at the inaugural ESPYS in 1993.

The 2014 ESPYS Categories and Nominees

BEST MALE ATHLETE

Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers

First player in 19 years to win 2 straight AL MVP awards

Won 3rd consecutive batting title with career high .348 BA

2nd in MLB with 44 HR and 137 RBI in leading Tigers to AL Central title

Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

NBA MVP

Averaged 32 points per game, highest scoring average since ’05-’06 season

Led the Thunder to a 59-23 record, second-best in the league, despite Russell Westbrook missing much of the season with injuries

Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos

Set records for most TD passes (55) and most passing yards (5,477) in a season

Threw for 400 yards and 2 TDs in AFC Championship win over Patriots

Won unprecedented fifth MVP award

Floyd Mayweather, Boxing

Cruised to a majority decision over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez

Won in a decision over Marcos Maidana, improving record to 46-0

BEST FEMALE ATHLETE

Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx

WNBA Finals MVP after averaging 20 points; 6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in leading Lynx to 3-game sweep over Atlanta

Led Lynx to league’s best record and finished third in scoring with 18.5 ppg

Ronda Rousey, UFC

UFC women’s bantamweight champ

Defeated Sara McMann in a TKO and Miesha Tate by submission

Mikaela Shiffrin, Olympic Skiing

At 18, became the youngest winner, male or female, of Olympic slalom gold medal

First American woman to earn a slalom medal of any color since Barbara Cochran won gold at the 1972 Sapporo Olympics

Breanna Stewart, Connecticut Women’s Basketball

Naismith Trophy winner and AP’s National Player of the Year

Final 4 Most Outstanding Player for 2nd time

Averaged 19.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists in leading Huskies to 40-0 record and NCAA title

BEST CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCE

Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion

2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion

Won 7 races in 2013, including 2 during the Chase for the Sprint Cup

Kawhi Leonard, NBA Finals MVP

Led San Antonio to a 5-game victory over Miami, averaging 17.8 points and 6.4 rebounds on 61% shooting

Exploded in the last 3 games, scoring 71 points on 24-for-35 shooting

Shabazz Napier, Men’s NCAA Tournament MOP

Had 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists in leading 7th seeded UConn over Kentucky in NCAA Tournament final

Named Final 4 Most Outstanding Player

David Ortiz, World Series MVP

Had .668 BA, .760 OBP with 2 HRs and 6 RBIs during the World Series

Led Red Sox to victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in 6 games

BEST BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE

Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles

Threw 27 TDs to only 2 INTs, leading the NFL with 119.2 QB rating

Tied an NFL record with 7 TD passes in a game in Week 9 matchup with Raiders

Damian Lillard, Portland Trailblazers

Averaged 20.7 ppg and 5.6 apg in making his first NBA All-Star team

Closed out the Rockets with a dramatic, buzzer beating three pointer in Game 6 Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks

Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks

Led NFL with 8 INTs

Tipped pass in the end zone in NFC Championship led Seattle to Super Bowl

Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees

Began the season with a 6-0 start, compiling a 2.17 ERA during that stretch